POL's ultrafast transient response meets digital demands

Dallas—Texas Instruments announces a family of non-isolated, plug-in power modules with a new technology that provides ultrafast transient response rates and dramatically reduces customers’ need for output capacitors. Featuring a tight 1.5 percent output voltage regulation, the point-of-load modules offer increased performance in a smaller footprint for designers of 3G wireless infrastructure, networking and communication systems that use advanced DSPs, FPGAs, ASICs and microprocessors.

"Today’s high-end communication system designers continue to develop systems with complex power requirements that must support more functionality, yet meet lower processing core voltage levels," said Steve Anderson, director of TI’s plug-in power business. "Texas Instruments consistently meets this design challenge with new generations of state-of-the-art, plug-in power modules that leverage our analog manufacturing and power system expertise and understanding of future digital signal processing power requirements."

Extending TI’s popular line of PTH devices, the new T2 series of POLA-compliant, point-of-load modules will support step-down DC/DC conversion from a wide 4.5- to 14-volt input with adjustable output voltages down to 0.7 volt at output currents up to 50 amps, making them ideal for intermediate bus architecture (IBA) applications. The power modules offer several advanced features to reduce the overall power solution footprint by as much as 50 percent compared to TI’s previous generation devices.

Faster Response, Less Output Capacitance
Advanced processing platforms, such as TI’s latest Gigahertz DSPs, require extremely fast transient responses for a system to perform at a high-level. To achieve certain transient targets, thousands of microfarads of capacitors must be added to most power supply systems. Even with higher volumetric efficiency, the added level of capacitance may expand the size of the overall power solution to more than that of the power supply alone—space that may have not been budgeted for or available.
The T2 power modules feature an innovative new TurboTrans technology, which allows a power supply designer to dynamically "tune" the modules using a single external transistor to meet a specific transient load requirement. The end-result is faster transient response with 40 percent less output voltage deviation and a five to eight times reduction in output capacitance. In addition, system stability is enhanced when using ultra-low equivalent series resistance (ESR) polymer tantalum or ceramic capacitors.

Increased Performance and Flexibility
In addition to TurboTrans technology, the T2 modules incorporate an innovative SmartSync function that allows the designer to synchronize the switching frequencies of multiple T2 devices to maximize power efficiency and minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI). SmartSync also allows the T2 modules to synchronize at different phase angles using external circuits to help balance source loading and minimize input capacitance. The synchronized modules also make EMI filtering easier by eliminating beat frequencies.
Additional features of the T2 modules include TI’s proprietary Auto-Track sequencing technology, which allows multiple modules to power up and down in sequence without external circuitry. The unique Auto-Track sequencing feature permits non-isolated power modules to track each other or any external control voltage. Meeting 260&degC re-flow requirements, the T2 series also provides advanced pre-bias startup capabilities.
The T2 power modules are now available in sample quantities. TI is currently accepting orders for volume production. Pricing per module in quantities of 1,000 begins at $7.90. Evaluation modules of the T2 family, application notes and TI’s online power management product selection tool are available through power.ti.com.